Hi Guys, I’m fairly new to reloading and noticed some significant ring marks on my eldm 308 projectiles on the ogive recently using a brand new Forster Micrometer searing die. I have no idea why this could be the case. I am however using brand new Lapua brass. Any thoughts
308 Seating issue
- Thread starter Jpatane17
- Start date
Jpatane17, I have experienced "rings" around the bullet tips of Hornady bullets before, too.. Have you noticed if your new Lapua brass cases are out-of-round, or dented?? Also do you run a mandrel through the necks, or size the cases before seating bullets?? I know some folks have had seating issues with new Lapua brass, & I'm thinking you might need to uniform necks with mandrel, or run cases through a sizing die to get an acceptable amount of neck tension (not too much!!), before bullet seating. I've noticed that some of the Hornady plastic tipped bullets seem to distort a bit easier than some of the other brands. Not sure how dramatic yours are damaged, but, unless you're going for extreme range, & BC perfection, you'll probably be ok with small amounts of tip distortion..... Hope this helps!!!!!! Idaho-5R
Seating pressure too high. Use an appropriate expander in conjunction with Imperial dry lube in the neck. Bullets will seat smoothly and without a ring.
Might want to invest in a VLD seating stem or one designed for the specific bullet or at least an ogive shape closer to the one that you are using. Or you could chuck the current stem into something to spin it, and then wrap a bullet with some fine sandpaper or coat it with come lapping compound to smooth out the contact area to eliminate the ring. (Assuming that seating force in not abnormally high in the first place.)
https://www.midwayusa.com/product/1018136829/redding-competition-seating-die-vld-stem
https://www.midwayusa.com/product/6...r-stem-30-caliber-178-200-and-220-grain-eld-x
https://www.midwayusa.com/product/1018136829/redding-competition-seating-die-vld-stem
https://www.midwayusa.com/product/6...r-stem-30-caliber-178-200-and-220-grain-eld-x
On some Lapua Cartridges they have the case necks UNDER sized for some reason. On those you need to open them up before reloading.
If that's not it, are you possibly working with a compressed load?
Something else to look at is if there is a sharp edge inside the seating stem. You could soften this slightly with some fine sand paper
If that's not it, are you possibly working with a compressed load?
Something else to look at is if there is a sharp edge inside the seating stem. You could soften this slightly with some fine sand paper
